AER LINGUS HAS announced further flight cancellations for this weekend.

The airline cited a Covid-19 outbreak among staff, industrial action in Bordeaux, Lyon and Pisa airports and the mandated capacity reduction at London’s Heathrow Airport as the reason for the cancellations.

The company has come under fire in recent weeks due to cancellations, long delays and baggage handling issues, resulting in luggage going missing or arriving several days after passengers reach their destination.

Five flights have been cancelled today, four of which were meant to depart from Dublin Airport and destined for Munich, Lyon, Bordeaux and Gatwick. The other flight was inbound from Heathrow Airport.

Three flights set to take off tomorrow, two outbound from Dublin to Lyon and Bordeaux and one inbound to Cork from Heathrow, have been axed, as well as a further two on Sunday, one from Dublin to Pisa and another from Heathrow to Dublin.

In a statement today, Aer Lingus apologised to customers affected and said that its teams are working to re-accommodate those impacted as efficiently as possible.

The airline stated: “Aer Lingus anticipated the return of demand for travel once Covid restrictions were removed and built buffers into our plans to deal with a reasonable level of additional disruption.

“However, a significant spike in Covid cases in recent weeks, combined with system pressures and ongoing issues at some airports and among third party suppliers have created considerable additional operational challenges,” it added.

The airline said it has shared details regarding customers’ rights and its obligations under Regulation (EC) 261/2004, which can also be found on the company’s website.

Aer Lingus has faced much criticism from customers and political figures throughout the summer period thus far.

Earlier this week, the airline refused to attend an Oireachtas Transport Committee hearing to discuss problems with cancellations, delays and baggage handling issues.

The Journal understands it is now expected they will attend in coming weeks.

Flights cancelled today due to London Heathrow capacity reductions: 

• London Heathrow – Dublin EI165

Illness-related cancellations today: 

• Dublin – Gatwick – Dublin EI230/EI231
• Dublin – Munich – Dublin EI352/EI353

Flights cancelled related to industrial action at Lyon and Bordeaux airports today: 

• Dublin – Lyon – Dublin EI552/EI553
• Dublin – Bordeaux – Dublin EI506/EI507

Cancellations related to industrial action at Lyon and Bordeaux tomorrow 16 July: 

• Dublin – Lyon – Dublin EI550/EI551
• Dublin – Bordeaux – Dublin EI506/EI507

Cancellations related to Heathrow capacity reduction tomorrow:

• London Heathrow – Cork EI711

Cancellations related to industrial action at Pisa Airport on Sunday 17 July:  

• Dublin – Pisa – Dublin EI428/EI429 

Cancellations related to Heathrow capacity reduction on Sunday:

• London Heathrow – Dublin EI165 

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